Famous Pyramids & Infamous Camels
As you really cannot travel to Egypt without seeing the Pyramids of Giza or riding a camel, we did both on our second day in Cairo. I would recommend both, but with key caveats for each.
To be honest, I didn't expect much from the pyramids. I had a romantic idea of them in my head that I knew from books and films set in the 1920’s, and I was absolutely certain that reality could not compare. I've heard enough stories about how the giant city ruins the effect, how it’s over crowded with tourists, and I can’t even count how many people told me there was a McDonald's sat right opposite. Not true. Seriously, really not true. You can barely make out any individual buildings at all from the city, never-mind one as mundane as a Mcdonalds. I didn't get a single whiff of a Mcdonalds until we got to Luxor - and that one was entirely run by deaf people which was actually pretty amazing.
We got to go into one of the pyramids again. To be honest if you only have time to clamber inside one pyramid and pretend you're Indiana Jones, I would choose the Pyramids of Dahshur, not here, the other is more awe-some (in the literal sense). Although the pyramids at Giza didn't quite overwhelm your senses with ammonia in the same way, so if you're particularly sensitive to chemicals you might be better at these ones.
It is still pretty quiet at all the main attractions in Egypt - even the most famous, the Pyramids of Giza, so the ratio of street vendors and camel men to tourists was a little off. It can make you more of a target but a simple 'No thanks' will do the trick.
Of course, these camel rides at the pyramids are infamous for so many reasons. Potentially because tourists sometimes feel entitled to a camel ride without feeling entitled to pay for it. Or potentially because once you’re on that camel, you are on that camel and you will not be getting off it until you’ve paid your due. But let’s be real, even if you do get ‘tricked’ onto getting on a camel, and even if you do get ‘scammed’ out of 20 quid, all they will do is take you for a bit of a walk - they aren't planning on kidnapping you.
Our group didn’t have any of these concerns however, because our camel rides were already organised. My camel was the best camel (not bias at all), also the first camel I’ve ever been on. The ascent was unexpected as he unfolded his legs, backend first, thrusting me over into an entirely new position. But the short walk was smooth, if not much higher up than I’d pictured.
*First posted on MollyTravels.com